A San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy dodged exploding ammunition to rescue a man from a mobile home fire in Borrego Springs Thursday.

Twenty-year veteran sheriff's deputy Alvin Vasquez wore two hats Wednesday night ,keeper of the peace and lifesaver to the very man he would otherwise have to arrest.

"He is seriously injured and I'm hoping the injuries won't cost him his life," Vasquez told NBC 7.

Vasquez was the first on scene at the mobile home on Dog Leg Place in the senior living community called The Roadrunner Club.

He was responding to an argument between neighbors over a sword.

Deputies say the ordeal started with two men, ages 65 and 54, began fighting in a mobile home park on Palm Canyon Drive at 4:30 p.m. One of the men pulled out a small sword.

As they struggled over it, both received non-life threatening injuries before returning to their respective mobile homes.

When Deputy Vasquez and State Park Rangers arrived, they confronted the 65-year-old on his front porch and ordered him to walk to them. 

Instead, he pulled out a knife, turned and ran inside, locking the door behind him. He then grabbed a can of gasoline.

"He doused himself and the area with gas, and he unfortunately used a cigarette and lit himself on fire," said Vasquez.

The deputy did not hesitate. He tried to get inside twice, but the fast-moving fire stopped him from reaching the man. As loose ammunition started exploding because of the heat, the man crawled to the front door, and Vasquez pulled him out to safety.

"The next thing I saw was a body being dragged out of the house, and the individual's clothes was on fire. So that was a little dramatic," said Bob Smith, who was watching over a fence.

Vasquez said the 65-year-old man was conscious and inebriated, but in a great deal of pain, when he was airlifted to the UCSD Burn Center for severe burns, as well as sword injuries.

Sheriff's officials say the man was the main aggressor and the 54-year-old involved was a victim.

The sheriff's bomb/arson detectives are helping with the investigation.

A United plane that may have caught fire over California made a quick "roller coaster" descent into Ontario International Airport at about 9 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration and a passenger's account.

United flight 1181 turned back to Southern California from its original flight path to Washington Dulles International Airport from Los Angeles International Airport, according to the FAA.

"The flight landed safely after diverting to Ontario, California, due to reports of a burning smell," according to a statement released by United.

All 199 passengers and seven crew members who were on board the Boeing 757 are safe, the airline said. Maintenance crews are working to review the aircraft and "working as quickly as possible to get our customers to Washington, D.C."

A passenger tweeted from the airplane when it landed, describing light smoke in the cabin and a flurry of firefighter activity around the plane once it stopped on the Tarmac.

"25,000 feet to 0 in 5 minutes. A roller coaster!" said Mitchell Hashimoto, who tweets under the handle @mitchellh. The tweet has now been deleted.

The airplane caught fire mid-flight, saying the landing was "not comfortable," Hashimoto said in another since-deleted tweet.

Another person tweeted that they were being evacuated from the plane in Ontario after smoke was seen on the flight. "This is crazy," said William Mayer, who tweets at @cigarash.

The plane's flight path, posted on a flight-tracking website, shows it circled back to the LA area soon after taking off from LAX , making it no further than about Palm Springs.

A 14-year-old shot and killed at party Wednesday night in Ontario was remembered by friends as a vibrant person who made others laugh.

Police arrested a 20-year-old man they believe to be behind the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Andrea Olague. The shooting occurred at a house at 749 East I Street in Ontario at 7 p.m, according to the Ontario Police Department.

"She was the person who made your day," said friend Yanez Sanchez. "She made you laugh. It made your day 10 times better when you saw her."

Investigators carried out boxes and bags of evidence early Thursday, according to a report in the Daily Bulletin. A handgun that police said might have been used in the crime also was recovered at the home. Police are unsure whether the teenager who was killed lived in the home, but said that she and the suspect knew each other.

Investigators told NBC4 they are attempting to determine whether the weapon was intentionally discharged.

A grandfather in a wheelchair says he's trapped in a care facility far from home because the state won't obey a court order to pay for home modifications.

San Bernardino resident Nicolas Mercado, a 54-year-old grandfather, was rendered a quadriplegic in 2011, when the big rig he was driving for work crashed. He's been living in a care facility in Garden Grove ever since, because his home lacks the modifications to fit his wheelchair.

His attorneys blame the California Insurance Guarantee Association, or CIGA, the state agency which took over the case after Mercado's insurance company went bankrupt. Even though Mercado has won several workers' compensation rulings to have his home modified, CIGA has appealed three times.

"The California Insurance Guarantee Association is on their third bite of the apple here to deny someone the ability to go home," Mercado's attorney Keith More said.

Mercado has now been fighting this battle for more than three years.

"I just want to be at home," he told NBC4, as his wife wiped his tears away. "I just hope nobody (goes) through what I'm going through."

The NBC4 I-Team spent a week calling CIGA, and asking about Mercado's case. Finally, after driving to the agency's Glendale headquarters, NBC4 got answers.

"We've looked into this and we think perhaps we could have taken a different path," admitted CIGA Executive Director Wayne Wilson, who personally reviewed Mercado's records at the NBC4 I-Team's request.

Wilson pointed out that CIGA is spending tens of thousands of dollars each month on Mercado's care, and has paid to add a ramp and widen some doorways. He went on to tell NBC4 it hasn't been enough.

"Mr. Mercado’s attorney and our Senior Executive here are going to meet early next week," Wilson continued. "He wants to have the support, love and affection of his family and wants to be with them and we’re going to see what we can do."

Mercado's wife Linda is hoping for the best, after years of painful partings at the end of every visit.

"I throw him a kiss, he throws me a kiss, and from there, you can imagine, sometimes, the way I leave," she said.

Both hope to soon be able to say goodnight, instead of goodbye.

If you are struggling with the state or a private company over a health insurance claim, you can contact the California Insurance Commissioner's consumer services toll-free hotline at 800-927-4357.

In Super Bowl V, the Cowboys' Chuck Howley was voted the game’s Most Valuable Player – even though his team lost.

In Super Bowl XII, Dallas defensive linemen Harvey Martin and Randy White shared MVP honors, despite the presence of such Hall of Fame teammates as Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett.

And in last year’s Super Bowl victory by the Seahawks, under-the-radar linebacker Malcolm Smith shined brighter than Legion of Boomers Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas – by returning an interception for a touchdown and getting a fumble recovery – to be named MVP in the victory over Denver.

While usually the Super Bowl MVP winds up in the hands of a star quarterback, running back or wide receiver, occasionally the MVP goes to a surprise contributor or defender.

Given the matchup of the Seahawks and Patriots in Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIX, here are five players who – under the right circumstances – might join the list of surprise MVPs:

Doug Baldwin, Seahawks wide receiver

When the Patriots and Seahawks last played in 2012, Baldwin had a big impact. He caught just two passes, but one was a 24-yarder for a touchdown, and the other went for 50 yards. Obviously, he’s not intimidated by the Patriots (though the personnel has changed some over two seasons). Plus, Baldwin is coming off a big NFC Championship Game performance, with six catches for 106 yards.

Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots kicker

No kicker ever has won game MVP, but Gostkowski could be just the man. The Seattle defense was the best in the NFL this season, so TD opportunities could be limited for New England. Even if Tom Brady & Co. move the ball up and down the field, Seattle is strong in the red zone. That could mean a lot of field-goal attempts for the reliable Gostkowski, in his ninth season with the Pats. This season he was 35-of-37 on field goals with a long of 53 yards.

Julian Edelman, Patriots wide receiver

The Seahawks defense will be acutely aware of tight end Rob Gronkowski, and containing him will be its No. 1 goal in the passing game. Edelman, however, is a consistent, elusive receiver who often seems to be effective even when defenses are well aware of him. After 92 regular-season catches, he’s had 25 in two playoff games. Plus, Edelman is a dangerous punt returner, with four taken all the way back for TDs in six seasons.

Bruce Irvin, Seahawks outside linebacker

This week, Irvin called Seattle one of the “top defenses to ever play” in the NFL because of its depth and talent. While Irvin is a big contributor, he’s overshadowed by some of the bigger names on defense. At 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds, Irvin – in just his third season – has long arms, an ability to get to the passer and a knack for making big plays. This season he had 6½ sacks and two interceptions, scored two TDs and was in on 37 tackles. He could be a focal point of whatever scheme defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has to put pressure on Brady.

Jonas Gray, Patriots running back

In recent games, LeGarrette Blount has been New England’s go-to back, and he’s been exceptional. But the Patriots believe in going with matchups, hot hands (or feet) and a committee approach. Gray is one of three Pats backs with more carries this season than Blount, and he averaged 4.6 yards per attempt this season. At 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, he’s a rugged back, a bit like Blount, and could keep getting the ball if he gets off to a good start. Earlier this season, Gray rushed for 201 yards in a win over the Colts.

New Yorkers packing the Roebling Sporting Club on Super Bowl Sunday will be watching the Brooklyn bar’s eight TVs to see whether the Patriots or Seahawks reign supreme.

Ryan McLaughlin, the bar’s manager, will follow a different contest — one played out at the beer taps.

“Bud Light will outsell any other beer that day, except maybe Budweiser,” said McLaughlin, who has worked the taps there for about a year and a half. But he’s “absolutely” seeing more people ordering craft beers like Great Divide’s Nomad or Coney Island’s Mermaid Pilsner, even during the Super Bowl, he said.

Craft beers — defined as beers from independently-owned, traditionally styled brewers making less than 6 million barrels a year — are more popular than ever across the U.S. But Super Bowl Sunday has traditionally been home turf for big American brewers like Anheuser-Busch and Miller-Coors, which can compound their worldwide cultural status with titanic advertising budgets.

Rather than try to compete on the grand scale, craft brewers say they’ll celebrate in their own small ways — unveiling a specialty beer, hosting a brewpub game-watch or simply posting a timely reminder on Facebook.

“We prefer word-of-mouth, social media and more organic advertising,” said Hilary Coalis, the director of marketing for San Diego’s Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits, which is growing rapidly and now distributes on both coasts. “We know it’s a big beer-drinking holiday, and we rely on our fans to make their choices.”

Stone Brewing Co., one of America’s largest independent craft brewers, has sworn off advertising altogether, said Nickie Peña. The brewery in Escondido, California, instead hosts what Peña calls "anti-Super Bowl" events. On the morning of the game, Stone invites its fans — national sales director Jason Armstrong calls them “true beer geeks” — to sample vintage or archived beers.

In 2013, American craft brewers collectively dethroned America’s biggest brand, Budweiser, shipping 16.1 million barrels to Budweiser’s 16 million, according to industry analyst Beer Insights. Craft beers have steadily grown by 10.9 percent over the past decade, said Julia Herz of the Craft Brewers Association, even as overall domestic beer sales have fallen.

“[Our fans] understand that instead of spending money on ads, we’re spending money on the product that we’re pushing out,” Peña said. “We’d rather create a product that’s locally made with high-quality ingredients, that isn’t watered-down, and put our money in that place, rather than putting our money on ads.”

At Top Hops Beer Co., a beer shop and tasting bar in New York specializing in craft beers, patrons said they prefer craft beers for the Super Bowl but are also picking up familiar brands for their friends.

“I like craft beers, Ommegang especially, but I think the general population is drinking Bud Light, Coors Light, and the other light stuff,” said Jonathan Spinner, a builder and designer. His friend Mike Warshaw, a plumber who was hosting his own Super Bowl party, said, “I’m probably going to buy a case of Corona, and Newcastle, but I’m into different-flavored beers.”

Ted Kenny, the owner of Top Hops, says he expects Budweiser and Stella Artois to sell well on the fourth Super Bowl he’s been in business. But he also expects to sell more craft beers than any other day of the year.

“I expect to sell more New England beers for people who want more themed parties — Sam Adams, Smuttynose,” Kenny said.

This year’s game has also provoked some friendly bets between brewers in Seahawks and Patriots country. Harpoon Brewery, with plants in Boston and Windsor, Vermont, and Elysian Brewing Company of Seattle (although recently acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev) have each staked three kegs on the outcome. The loser will serve the winner’s beer.

That’s another trend lifting small brewers: Drinking local. Small, independent brewers celebrate their hometowns, they say, and local fans respond by celebrating with their beer.

“More people are looking to buy local products and support businesses that are made or grown closer to home,” said Eugene Simor, the president of San Antonio’s Alamo Brewing Company. “That’s what’s driving craft, and the big guys can’t compete with it. It’s not an advertising or marketing thing. It’s people going back to the roots of what the beer industry used to be about.”

Simor has leaned heavily on local support to drum up Super Bowl business. Alamo partnered with Texas Public Radio, local academics and several local businesses to host a panel discussion of Super Bowl advertising and marketing. The panel will be hosted at the beer hall in Alamo’s newly-opened brewery in in downtown San Antonio. Simor expects a capacity crowd: 125 people.

Tim Miller, a craft brewer from Maryland, is hoping a sense of local pride can also restore some luster to old brands. In 2011, Miller resurrected National Premium Beer, an old Baltimore brand, with an eye on Baby Boomers nostalgic for a local favorite.

“Our market is male, 50-plus, from the mid-Atlantic, really loves the beer, loves the story, remembers it fondly,” Miller said. “Our plan is that during, say, the Super Bowl or Father’s Day, a father will tell his son about this beer he used to drink, their special beer.”

Craft brewers still face an uphill battle against the entrenched American heavyweights, however, especially during the Super Bowl.

“Over the course of 2014, 30 percent of the case volume sold nationwide was premium light beers: Coors Light, Miller Lite,” said MillerCoors spokeswoman Cat Corrigan, citing a Nielsen statistic. “We know that those beers will be the prominent choice for sports fans who are sitting down to watch the Super Bowl.”

Bartenders at sports bars know it, too.

“I predict Bud Light, Miller Light, and Coors Light,” said Pete Fecht, a manager at St. Mark’s Ale House, a Manhattan sports bar. “A football crowd always drinks the cheapest beer in the biggest quantity.”

Big brewers are paying handsomely for that attention. Anheuser-Bush is the Super Bowl’s exclusive beer advertiser, ensuring that spectators will get their fix of the brand’s iconic Clydesdales (and, now, golden retriever puppies). MillerCoors, on the other hand, is promoting its brands through live events likely to drum up outside media coverage. Coors Light is sponsoring ESPN’s Super Bowl party, Corrigan said. Miller Lite is sponsoring a Super Bowl party co-hosted by Rolling Stone magazine and featuring Aerosmith.

Back at the bar at Roebling Sporting Club, McLaughlin will have Bud Light on hand. But craft beers will be on tap.

“People ask for what’s local,” he said. “I’m a staunch craft beer supporter. It’s the beer renaissance here in the United States.”
 

Marion "Suge" Knight was called to a fast-food restaurant for a meeting and attacked by four people who beat the former rap music mogul through his truck window and threatened to kill him, an attorney told The Associated Press Friday.

Attorney James Blatt said the confrontation ended with Knight accidentally running two men over, killing one. The deceased victim was identified Friday as 55-year-old Terry Carter.

Blatt told the AP a friend of Knight's called him to Tam's Burgers in Compton about an hour after a dispute at a shoot a couple miles away for the new "Straight Outta Compton" movie. Knight was attacked as he slowed his pickup truck and fled in fear by accelerating, Blatt said.

He had no idea he had hit two men, killing Carter (pictured, right), and injuring another 51-year-old man.

Knight was booked on suspicion of murder at the West Hollywood Station at 3 a.m. and was being held in lieu of $2 million bail. He did not comment when asked about the allegations.

It appeared that the driver "drove backward, struck victims, then went forward and struck them again as he left," Lt. John Corina of the LA County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.

A court date was scheduled for Tuesday, but might be rescheduled, according to Knight's attorney's office. He remained in jail Friday afternoon.

Knight is awaiting trial on a robbery charge stemming from the alleged theft of a camera from a paparazzo in Beverly Hills in September. He is charged in that case along with comedian Micah "Katt" Williams.

Toni Guinyard contributed to this report.

Refresh for updates.
 

Vanessa Pumar says she was a junior in college when she felt her calling come knocking.

"In my naive mind, I thought I'm gonna give my parents their Green Card," she says. "It can't be that difficult."

Pumar had come with her parents to the United States from Venezuela when she was 12 years old.

Years later as her family was navigating immigration courts, she says a weak attorney nearly sent them packing.

She took the LSAT and passed; she applied to Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles and was accepted; she graduated and took the California State Bar Exam and passed; and at 1 p.m. on Friday, she'll swear an oath to uphold the constitution as a licensed immigration attorney.

"Now is the time," Pumar says, a recipient of Deferred Action for Child Arrivals which allows her to work legally in the U.S., "I did what I could within the system Congress created."

But Pumar says she knows there are some who will say being in this country without the proper documentation is in and of itself a crime.

"Immigration laws are very punitive," she says. "So if there were immigration reform or if the laws were fair, I wouldn't be in this situation."

She's not the first undocumented immigrant to be given a license to practice law in California.

Sergio Garcia took an oath a year ago in Sacramento, but she is the first to do so as a DACA recipient and she says she will continue to fight for immigration reform.

"I don't think there is a greater act of civil disobedience than an undocumented lawyer representing another undocumented immigrant facing removal from the United States," Pumar says.

Pumar has agreed to work as a legal representative for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, saying she's proud to now serve the community she remains a part of.

And while things could always change if Congress attempts to curb President Obama's executive order, Pumar's state license wouldn't be affected.

"Congress just needs to understand that we're here to help and stop blaming us for everything that goes wrong in this country," she says.

Apparently, Steve Nash has finally come to terms with the end of his career and returned to the Los Angeles Lakers in a mentoring capacity. In particular, Nash is helping 22-year-old Jordan Clarkson understand the mental game of the NBA.

Nash is one of the greatest point guards in the history of the NBA, but he will not go down as a beloved figure among fans of the purple and gold. Fans questioned Nash's disappearing act from the team after the Lakers announced Nash would not be playing during the 2014-15 season. Fans felt irate that the veteran point guard continued to receive a salary while not being with the team in any known capacity.

"I know it didn't go over perfect," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said when asked about Nash on Thursday. "With our blessing, we said 'take the time you need to get away from the game,' but I've been engaged with Steve [Nash]."

"He's around," Kupchak continued. "We have breakfast once a month. He will work with some of our players. He may have already started doing that. He's not going to go out and advertise that he's doing it. We've talked about helping the younger players. As the season progresses, I think he'll be more engaged."

Without much fanfare, Nash returned to the team in a mentoring capacity, and the greatest Canadian basketball player of all time is helping Clarkson, the Lakers' rookie point guard, adjust to life as a starting point guard in the NBA.

In his first career start, Clarkson lined up against former NBA Finals M.V.P. Tony Parker. Next, he faced one of the best defensive point guards in the NBA in Patrick Beverly. In his third and fourth careers starts, Clarkson matched up against All-Star John Wall and former NBA M.V.P Derrick Rose.

In three of those four games, Clarkson stepped up to the challenge, and he has thus far outperformed expectations.

Playing 43 minutes in a double overtime win over Rose and the Chicago Bulls, the Lakers' rookie tied his career high in points (18), rebounds (4) and assists (4). Only making his fourth career start, Clarkson spoke about watching film and improving following Thursday win.

At his locker, Clarkson told NBCLA.com that Nash had recently spoken with him in an attempt to help the young point guard.

"I was actually with Steve [Nash] yesterday," Clarkson said after Thursday's victory over the Bulls. "That was, I think, the first time meeting face-to-face and talking about stuff, so it was good."

Clarkson said that Nash's input helped, and the 22-year-old confirmed that the 40-year-old was helping via conversation and also working on the court.

In the Lakers' time of need, Nash turned up. Nine games into a losing streak and on the same day news that Kobe Bryant would be out for nine months broke, Nash sat down with the Lakers' rookie. The Canadian's presence was, no doubt, a welcome sight for the Lakers' organization.

When asked about which guys he has been studying on film, Clarkson said he had been watching Chris Paul because the LA Clippers' point guard is one of the best in the business at changing and controlling his pace. Clarkson also said he had been studying old game footage of Nash, as the Canadian mastered changing speeds during his nearly two-decade long career.

Clarkson, however, has a couple inches on Nash and about five inches on Paul. In terms of speed, Clarkson's pace and natural athletic ability likely trumps either point guard. After making a tough jump shot in the second overtime period, Clarkson struck a gunslinger pose that was reminiscent of a point guard that Clarkson naturally matches on multiple levels: Russell Westbrook.

"I watch Russell a lot," Clarkson told NBCLA.com. "I watch him a lot. I take some stuff from his game, the way he's aggressive at all times."

Similar to Westbrook, Clarkson is naturally more of a scorer than a passer, and a foot race between the two point guards would be fun to watch. The Lakers' rookie is not nearly as aggressive as the Oklahoma City Thunder guard, but his confidence is growing with every start.

Although the comparisons are admittedly premature, Clarkson has the opportunity to gain confidence with extended time on the court. With Nash helping develop the rookie's NBA identity and Clarkson's natural explosiveness mixing with a conscious effort to play with more aggression, the 22-year-old should only continue to draw comparisons to the former UCLA Bruin. And, that's a positive comparison.

For those wondering, the Lakers and the Thunder meet at Staples Center on Mar. 1 and in Oklahoma City on Mar. 24. Those meetings should only further help to develop the rookie, who provides a glimmer of bright light in a season filled with darkness.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck admitted Thursday that mistakes were made in allowing a convicted killer to be a keynote speaker.

With heavy security, the LAPD escorted a hitman for the Mexican Mafia into downtown LA to speak to law enforcement and wealthy business leaders.

Beck said in a news release Thursday that he has directed the department to "more thoroughly review future events before committing LAPD resources."

The news came a day after the president of the LA Police Commission called for an investigation into the use of LAPD resources to arrange for the meeting.

Rene Enriquez, a high ranking hitman in the Mexican Mafia serving two life sentences for murder, got an LAPD escort to and from a secured downtown LA location on Spring Street where he was to give a crowd of about 125 firsthand insight about the inner-workings of the criminal enterprise.

Mayor Eric Garcetti said he immediately reached out to Beck with a message.

"Any resources taken off the street and used in this way, in my opinion, it was wrong and shouldn't have happened," he said.

Before heading back to prison, Enriquez signed copies of his biography to those in attendance. Police are expected to hold a meeting to talk more about the case next Tuesday.

He's had boots on the ground without fail for 20 straight years.

Day after day at the break of dawn, Kevin Sherman is on a mission to keep the streets of LA clean and provide for his family.

Growing up in Compton, the only goal for his children was education and to make sure they end up in a better position than he. And in 2010, his youngest son Richard graduated from Stanford, where he also played football.

You might know him: Richard Sherman, the dominant cornerback for Super Bowl-bound Seattle Seahawks, one of the best known and most outspoken players in the NFL.

The NFL's biggest trash talker received his most important life lessons from a canny trash man.

"Don't change for anybody," Kevin Sherman said. "Be yourself. Right, wrong, indifferent, nobody can never say you're not yourself."

Despite losing an eye in a teenage go-karting accident, he taught his kids to never quit, which is why the father of the star athlete is still hard at work and two years shy of retiring and earning a pension.

"My son is an NFL player, but I don't want my son taking care of me the rest of my life," he said.

All the while, Kevin Sherman remains in the background collecting memories — Super Bowl rings.
 

Two cases of Disney-linked measles have been confirmed in Marin County, the health department said on Thursday, and both children were unvaccinated.

Their names and ages were not released, though the county health department said they are related. The infection occurred outside the county when they contracted the disease, Marin's Public Health Officer Dr. Matthew Willis and in this case, there is no need to bar other unvaccinated children from school. He confirmed that the cases are indeed linked to the Disney outbreak that was first reported in December.

The two children join the 80 and counting people who have confirmed and documented cases of measles in California as of Wednesday, according to the California Department of Public Health. Of those cases, 52 are epidemiologically linked to Disney, and the remaining 27 have no known link to the Southern California Disney parks.

In the Bay Area, Alameda County has had six case of confirmed Disney-related measles. Also, on Friday, a preschooler was diagnosed with measles in Ventura County, stemming from a Disney park exposure.

Though Marin Health and Human Services did not describe how old the people with measles are, the agency posted on its website that by law in California, unvaccinated children will be kept out of school for 21 days if there is a case on campus. But Willis said in this case, there was no need to do that because "there is no evidence for school-based exposure."

There are many people who choose not to vaccinate, citing a "personal belief" exemption. There are a high number of those people in highly educated Marin County, the Bay Area county with the highest vaccination exemption rate of 6.5 percent in 2014-15. However, Willis noted that the number of Marin parents choosing these exemptions has decreased by 18 percent since 2012. Nevada County in California has the highest personal-belief exemption rate with a 21 percent opt out rate, according to the Department of Health.

"I actually respect a parent's ability to choose in a variety of areas," Marin County Superintendent of Schools Jane Burke said on Friday. "However, I think we should take note of what they do in Sweden where it's a civic responsibility to be immunized because we indeed need to protect those unable to young infants and older people."

She said she is doing everything in her power to garner a "sea change" to educate people on the importance of vaccinations. She credited Kaiser Permanente for sending out robo calls to people in the community to remind them to get their shots.

Some doctors are refusing to see children whose parents won't get them vaccinated against the disease. 

The man accused of murdering a Fallbrook family found buried in the desert requested to represent himself in court during an early hearing, claiming he only had six to eight months to live.

Charles Merritt, a former business partner of Joseph McStay, is accused of killing McStay along with Sunny McStay and the couple’s two boys in 2010.

Merritt said he wanted to represent himself for two reasons. He said he only has six to eight months to live due to congestive heart failure and could not afford his own attorney. The San Bernadino judge said Merritt could act as his own attorney.

He said he believes he can work around the clock to move the trail process along faster than his own attorney could. The judge offered a court-appointed attorney at no cost, but Merritt declined.

In a prior hearing, a San Bernadino judge denied a request to unseal search warrants in the case of a Fallbrook family found buried in the desert.

NBC 7 is one of 18 news organizations seeking release of search warrant documents related to the case against Merritt.

The judge would not unseal any portion of the search warrants the media requested, arguing that the release would impede on Merritt's right to a fair trial and would impede an ongoing investigation.

The judge said, however, that he was willing to revisit the case in the future. Some of those documents the media is requesting could be released after a preliminary hearing or sooner, the judge said, if the preliminary hearing is delayed.

The Fallbrook family was believed to have vanished. Family members and other volunteers searched for any sign of them, crime cable shows highlighted their story and an investigation was launched by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

It wasn’t until November 2013, that the family’s bodies were uncovered in Victorville.

The media argued in court that the public has a constitutional right to see search warrant documents and learn more about the investigation, now that Merritt has been arrested and formally charged with the crimes.

But prosecutors strongly disagreed in court. Deputy District Attorney Mark Vos argued the release of the documents could harm what that he characterizes as a continuing investigation and an “open murder case”, despite earlier statements by the San Bernardino Sheriff that Merritt is the only suspect in the case.

The judge set a status conference in two weeks for February 20. A pre preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 3 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 7.

A patient feared to have Ebola has tested negative for the deadly virus, California health officials confirmed Friday.

The patient was transferred to UC Davis Medical Center on Thursday after showing symptoms consistent with the virus. A test conducted by the Sacramento County Public Health Laboratory came back negative Thursday night.

The hospital reports the patient is in good condition.

There is no threat to the general public, officials said.

The possible Ebola case came to light on Thursday, the same day the World Health Organization reported Ebola cases in three of the worst-hit West African countries are at the lowest level in seven months.

Shots rang out when a carjacker attempted to take over the vehicle of a National Homeland Security officer in Delaware Friday morning, multiple sources tell NBC10.

The special agent was parking a government vehicle in a garage at 11th and Tatnell streets in Wilmington around 8 a.m. when a suspect tried to carjack the vehicle, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The agent discharged one round from his weapon in self-defense, DHS added.

The carjacker ran from the scene, but Wilmington Police officers apprehended the suspect.

Federal authorities and local police are working together to investigate the incident.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of Professional Responsibility is handling the weapon discharge internally.

ICE is an arm of DHS.